Bargain hunters hit the internet

Shoppers spent Christmas Day online as retailers launched heavy discounts via their websites ahead of the traditional Boxing Day sales. Televisions and other electrical goods were expected to be popular online purchases, retailers predicted. Marks & Spencer, which launched its online sale just after midnight, reported brisk trading. A spokeswoman said: "It has been a busy day online. "The online sale started at one minute after midnight and we were particularly busy between midnight and 1am. "Men's suits and most areas of women's wear, including footwear, have been selling particularly well." Last Christmas Day as many as 200,000 shoppers visited the store's website, she said, adding: "We're expecting the same number, if not more, this time around." Comet expected bargain-hunters to hit the net after Christmas dinner at 3pm, rising to a peak at 9pm. Other firms which launched their online sales on Christmas Day included PC World, Currys and Argos. The Post Office Broadband predicted 60% of people in the UK would go online at some point on Tuesday. And one in five Christmas Day internet surfers would buy something online, the Post Office predicted.